Around 35 people attacked the car of former Jharkhand chief minister Babulal Marandi in Porgadhi, Godda district, on Friday.

Marandi was campaigning for the March 24 Poreyahat assembly byelection when Jharkhand Mukti Morcha activists, 'armed with arrows and bows, broke the windscreen of the car', Director-General of Police R R Prasad said in Ranchi.

"However, Marandi escaped unhurt as the police opened fire in the air and dispersed the crowd," he said.

Former mines and geology minister Ravindra Rai was also in the car.

Marandi's driver managed to speed off the vehicle, Prasad said, adding the former chief minister later reached the house of Pradeep Yadav, Member of Parliament.